Tag: expansion
Kwik Fit Italy hits 51 branches
Kwik Fit has grown into the fourth largest branded tyre retail network in Italy just three years after the chain got underway in Italy. 51 centres now operate under the Kwik Fit brand across the country, with the network most recently adding a well-established operator in San Marino.
The growing influence of autocentres on tyre retail
In recent years autocentres have been selling more tyres than ever. At the same time, specialist tyre retailers – such as those featured on our annual table, have moved towards additional servicing and mechanical repairs in order to increase sales. This is especially the case at the top of the table, amongst the largest tyre retail chains where as much as 45 per cent of annual turnover is now made up of non-tyre sales.
Driving simulator manufacturer expand UK facilities on increased demand
UK-based driving simulator manufacturer Ansible Motion will double its office space at the Hethel Engineering Centre for the design, validation and manufacturing of its proven simulator and testing technologies, as it expands on the back of increased demand. The company has secured a grant towards its facilities expansion through the New Anglia Small Grant Scheme, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. The new offices are due to open in June 2019.
Nexen set to begin trial production at new Czech tyre plant
Nexen Tire Europe is due to begin trial production at its new facility in Zatec, the Czech Republic. The news marks the virtual completion of the project that started in October 2015.
Test World opens newly expanded indoor proving ground
Test World officially opened additional new indoor test facilities at its Ivalo, Finland operation on 27 March 2019, signalling the culminating of that latest part of a multi-million-euro series of investments in Test World. The recently constructed indoor facilities increase Test World’s capacity for year-round cold weather testing, allowing for simultaneous testing on snow, ice, and wet and dry asphalt, 365 days a year.
Evonik’s new truck tyre silica
Evonik reports that it has developed a new silica that it says is particularly suitable for use in truck and bus (TBR) tyres. In contrast to passenger car tyres, TBR tyres use mainly natural rubber, which, in combination with silane, places special requirements on the silica. With Evonik’s latest silica/silane development, fuel savings could be as high 8 per cent, the company said, which cuts costs and is better for the environment.
Pirelli expands Romania factory and warehousing
Pirelli has commissioned Belgian industrial property developer WDP to construct a new 62,000 square metre warehouse alongside the tyre manufacturer’s existing Slatina, Romania manufacturing operation. According to WDP, the news comes as part of “an expansion of the tyre manufacturer’s existing production facility”. WDP predicts that the project will cost around 40 million euros.
Kwik Fit reaches 44 branches in Italy
After opening its 40th centre in 2018, Kwik-Fit has announced that it now has 44 centres running under the Kwik Fit brand in Italy, exceeding growth forecasts. The company broke through the 10 branch barrier in October 2017. The long-term goal is to reach 200 centres.
Galgo opens new European distribution centre and headquarters
Mexico-based retreading material supplier Galgo Pre-Q Europe recently relocated its European headquarters to a larger distribution centre located in Willebroek, Belgium.
Magna Tyres Group expands into North America
Magna Tyres Group is expanding its network of offices and distribution into the United States and Canada. According to the company, Magna Tyres Group will start its expansion into the North American continent with an office in Canada.
Ronal breaks ground on new tool shop in Härkingen
The Ronal Group is building a new toolmaking shop at the site of the group’s headquarters in Härkingen (Switzerland). The groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held on 14 January, while construction is due to begin in February 2019.
Marangoni USA increasing tread production
Marangoni Tread North America is adding capacity to manufacture its XP Extreme Performance wide base Ringtread in the US – specifically at its tread manufacturing plant in Tennessee. According to the company, the move is being made to meet business demand from independent retreaders, Marangoni is expanding.
European Springs expands with 1 million euro investment in UK operations
European Springs & Pressings, supported by parent company Lesjofors, has invested 1 million euros in a new spring coiling machine, the first of its kind in the UK.
Prinx Chengshan invests £19 million in purchasing land for new Thailand tyre factory
Having rejected earlier plans for a new tyre factory in Malaysia, Prinx Chengshan has invested 170.6 million yuan (£19.464 million) in buying at least 433,600 square metres of land in at Tambon Nong Suea Chang, Amphur Nong Yai, and Tambon Klong-Kew, Amphur Ban-Bung, Chonburi province in Thailand. According to stock exchange filings dated 25 December 2018, the deal comprises “several plots of land” and will be funded by the company’s recent global share offering.
FinTyre buys RS Exclusiv Reifengrosshandel and TyreXpert Reifen + Autoservice
European FinTyre Distribution (EfTD) has signed a binding agreement to acquire two key players in the German tyre market: RS Exclusiv Reifengrosshandel GmbH and TyreXpert Reifen + Autoservice GmbH. As a result of the acquisition EfTD now has a total turnover of 740 million euros in Germany and project annual unit sales of 8.5 million tyres.